Improvement in swells for musical instruments



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

IIIRAM VOODBURY, OF BUFFALO, NEWT YORK, ASSIGNOR TO G. A. PRINCE AND THOS. STEPIIENSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT INSWELLS FOR MUSiCAL INSTRUMNTS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,322, dated September' 1'?, lSlA .T0 LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM WooDEoEv, of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Swell for Reed Musical Instruments; andIdo hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists iu forming the valve of the air-chamber constituting the swell so that a projection of it may shut by the valve-seat on the front strip of the air-chamber, substantially as shown in the drawings, for the purpose of qualifying and graduating the tone of reed musical instruments. Vith this projection, lip, or strip the harsh and grating sound so common to ordinary reed-instruments is subdued into a inellow round organ-like tone. The waves of air set in motion bv the vibration of the reeds are brought in contact with the projection on the valve, and are thereby deprived of theiracuteness, and are much modified before reaching the ear. Also, in addition to qualifying the tone, the relative position of this projection with the front strip of the air-chamber is such that the quantity of air admitted to the chamber by operatin g the valve is made'more gradual, and the same quality of tone is preserved whether the swell be open or shut.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operatitn.

I construct my swell in the box form, as shown in the drawings by t-he marks X X X, and attach the lid or valve A in the usual manner with a strip of cloth I3. At or near the edge of the lid or valve (that part which is opened for the admission of air) I attach by fastening on an eXtra piece C, or leave by cutting away superiiuous wood, a part which is thicker than the main piece of the lid. This part or projection O shuts by the seat upon which the edge of the valve rests (valve-seat) D. Then the valve is moved for expression by the usual means, the projection attached to itbeing moved with it, and in line, or nearly so, with the front strip of the air-chamber, graduates the entrance of air more perfectly than without it, and at the saine time quali` lies the tone.

Figure lis a perspective view of a melodeonaction, (minus the bellows) beinOin part the tube-board, keyboard, reed valves, pins, and springs. E,isthetubeboard; XXX,the swell; A, the lid or valve; B, the cloth hinge; O, the projection, lip, or strip; G, the front strip of the air-chamber; D, the valve-seat, and F the air-chamber. Fig. 2 is a View of a swell valve with the projection attached.

XVhat I claim to be my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,y is- Forming the valve of the air-chamber constituting the swell so that a projection of it may shut by the valve-seat on the front strip of the air-chamber, substantially as shown by these papers, for the purpose of qualifying and graduating the tone of reed musical instruments.

HIRAM IVOODBURY.

Vitnesses:

GHAs. E. BACON, THos. F. THORNTON. 

